Taking Care of Your Feet While You’re Young

Although it can be easy to take seemingly simple things for granted, do not let your feet be one of them. Our feet help us do everyday activities and get from place to place, without them life becomes way more difficult! If you follow the basic care steps on how to take care of your feet, you older self will thank you later for it.

Foot Care Tips

Proper shoes

It is extremely important for your feet that you wear the proper footwear. It depends on the activity, but a good rule of thumb is that all your footwear (especially the shoes you wear most often) should have good arch support. If you wear shoes like flip-flops, your arch and heel will become fatigued due to no support. Limit how often you wear shoes such as heels as well because heels also offer no support and are unstable. It is also extra important to wear the right shoes when doing sports or any activity that involves more movement. For example, going hiking requires hiking boots for proper protection.

Over time, improper footwear causes damage to your feet. Corns and calluses can occur, usually due to shoes not fitting correctly and rubbing against the skin. Long-term damage includes collapsed arches and joint pain. What you put on your feet truly makes a difference!

Hygiene

Keeping up with your feet’s hygiene is important not only to prevent odor but for overall health. Wash your feet every day with warm water and soap. Avoid soaking your feet, however, as this can strip the skin of its natural oils. Dry your feet completely after washing. Leaving moisture, especially between the toes, can lead to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. If you moisturize your feet, avoid putting any lotions between the toes as well. When wearing socks, make sure to get a fresh pair every day. Lastly, allow your feet to ‘breathe’ periodically.

Keep Blood Flow

Allowing proper circulation in your feet daily is key. Do not cross your legs for long periods of time or keep your feet elevated for too long. A good way to periodically help keep good blood flow is to wiggle your toes or walk around, which is good practice for those who sit at work or school all day. Being active is also good, as long as your feet are properly supported.

If circulation is not maintained in the feet, numerous consequences can occur. Joint pain, muscle cramping, permanent numbness, and skin color changing are all possible symptoms of extended poor circulation.

Do not put the health of your feet aside. Along with all these tips, make sure to see a podiatrist if you are noticing any problems with your feet. As you age, it is also healthy to be seen by a podiatrist to make sure your feet are in good health. Remember: taking care of your feet now will save you a lot of pain in the future!